radio access network


radio access network

A wireless network that uses radio frequencies, which includes the technologies used in the air interface, base stations, core network and user devices. The term radio access network (RAN) is widely used when referring to cellular networks. For example, it is used with GSM and UMTS systems. GRAN (GSM RAN) and UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial RAN) are GSM and UMTS radio access networks. See GSM and UMTS.